Criticism Unacceptable

Objection # 8: It is a punishable offense to criticize Islam:

You can see why this one is a good supporting idea for the collection. It helps suppress any ideas that would reduce the authority of Islamic ideas. This idea is in the Qur’an, and Mohammad set a fierce example of punishing people who criticized him or Islam.

Comments:

This is nothing but fabricated false accusation, no one be it Christian, Jews, Buddhist or Hindu would like criticism of his faith so the Muslims. However calling it ‘punishable’ indicate trial and punishment in court. Where as the verses mentioned indicate divine punishment here and hereafter. Verses from Qur’an;33:57,58:5, 22:3,7, 11,15, 19 & 25 quoted are general in nature, a warning to disbelievers for swear punishment in hell in hereafter for their disbelief and bad deeds, they are cursed in this world and hereafter. While in verse 65:10, 22:14, 23 the believers have given the good news of reward in hereafter for their faith and good works. Warning and Good News is normal in almost all the religions including Christianity and Judaism, the eschatology include the concept of hell and paradise so in Islam.

Bible: “For a fire is kindled in my anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with its increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains”[Deuteronomy 32:22]. “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the judgment of hell?”[Matthew 23:33], “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”[Matthew 13:42], “But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him”[Luke 12:5].“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in paradise”[Luke 23:43]. “You have been in Eden the garden of God;”[Ezekiel 28:13]

Qur’an: “If your Lord had so willed, He would have certainly made mankind one single nation but that is not what He wants, so they will continue to differ. Except those on whom He has bestowed His mercy; and that very freedom of choice and action is the whole purpose of their creation. That is how the Word of your Lord, that He will fill Hell with jinns and human beings all together, will be fulfilled.”[Qur’an;11:118-119]

“Ask them: “Which is better, this hell or the eternal paradise which the righteous are being promised, which will be the reward of their good deeds and also their final destination; wherein they will live forever and get everything that they wish for: and this is the promise worth praying for, which your Rabb is going to fulfill.”[Qur’an;25:15-16]

The example of Divine punishment to the nations of Noah, Aad, Samood and Lot (peace be upon them) in the form of destruction through natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, tornados etc are well recorded in Qur’an and Bible [Genesis; 7:1-24, 8:1-22, Ge 18:16-33; 19:1-29; De 23:17, 29:23; 32:32; Isa 1:9-10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer 23:14; Eze 16:46-56; Zep 2:9; Mt 10:15; Ro 9:29; 2Pe 2:6, Exodus;15:4. Qur’an 25:37, 26:171-174, 51:37, 54:41-42, 23:48, 41:16,7:78, 11:67, 11:82, 29:37-40]. Same is repeated: “How many cities have turned away from the command of their Lord and His messengers! Therefore, We judged them severely and punished them with a harsh punishment. They tasted the evil consequences of their own behavior, and the consequences of their behavior were ruinous”[Qur’an;65:8].

Sins are punished by God in this world, hereafter or in both. In Muslim countries the non believers are not punished for their disbelief, as long as they do not commit an act of blasphemy openly. The crimes or offense like Blasphemy are punishable through court of law according to the nature of offence. Muslims love their Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] even more than their children, parents even own life. Any blasphemy against him like making fun through caricatures etc is not freedom of expression or criticism. In most of the European countries even Holocaust denial is a punishable crime. Muslims love and respect Prophet Jesus Christ, the son of Mary [pbuh], they will even accept any blasphemy against him.